The game in 100 words (or less): The New York Red Bulls needed all 90 minutes of Sunday’s duel with the bottom-of-the-league Chicago Fire to salvage a draw and a point, but it’s a result that sees them drop just two points off the pace of Eastern Conference-leading New York City FC this weekend. Matt Polster scored a goal at each end before halftime, and David Accam and Bradley Wright-Phillips joined him on the scoresheet, with the latter equalizing for the visitors in the final minute of regular time and becoming the Red Bulls’ all-time leading goalscorer in the process, surpassing Juan Pablo Angel.
[ MORE: All the rest of Sunday’s MLS action ]
Three Four moments that mattered
16' — Polster puts the ball into his own net — Just the first goal scored by Polster this evening.
Unlucky break for Chicago as @NewYorkRedBulls take the lead early on. #CHIvNY https://t.co/Fdjdbroqcx
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2016
35' — Accam rolls one past Robles for 1-1 — They call this a worm-burner.
David Accam levels things up. 1-1 game in Chicago. #CHIvNY https://t.co/v64dNgZD8N
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2016
45+1' — Polster puts one in at the other end — Polster followed up his first own goal with the first goal of his career. What an eventful evening for the second-year man.
Matt Polster making amends! Chicago up 2-1. #CHIvNY https://t.co/N1zcn6fLak
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2016
90' — BWP turns Lade’s cross home for 2-2 — Such a deft touch, and with pinpoint redirection.
FT: With a late equalizer from @TheRealBWP, #CHIvNY end things tied 2-2. Stats: https://t.co/Arz5c8UVff https://t.co/BFJaG0qbF7
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 1, 2016
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Man of the match: David Accam
Goalscorers: Polster (16' - OG, 45+1'), Accam (35'), Wright-Phillips (90')
The game in 100 words (or less): Barely a month after holding the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia Union can’t stop the bleeding. Sunday’s 2-1 home loss to Real Salt Lake was their fourth in six games, a five-week span which includes just one win. After going ahead just before halftime, Jim Curtin’s side conceded a pair of goals inside the first 10 minutes of the second half, bringing their total number of goals conceded to 20 in their last nine games (prior to that skid, they had conceded just 15 goals in 13 games). RSL, meanwhile, entered Sunday’s clash without a win in their last six games and just four wins in their last 14 games after they were the last unbeaten side to start the season (six games). The Union remain third in the East, a point back of the Red Bulls, while RSL pull level on points with fourth-place Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference, but remain fifth based on total wins.
[ MORE: Previewing the rest of the MLS weekend ]
Three moments that mattered
44' — Alberg converts from the spot for 1-0 — Cool as you like from Roland Alberg.
Alberg converts the penalty for 1-0 for @PhilaUnion just before the break. #PHIvRSL https://t.co/jHCQStgHPE
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2016
48' — Plata curls a beauty far post — Joao Plata is indescribably fun to watch on a soccer field.
Take a bow, Joao!
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 1, 2016
Plata with the stunning equalizer for @RealSaltLake #PHIvRSL https://t.co/QMZVZ06hge
54' — Morales chips Blake for 2-1 — It’s a thing of beauty.
And just like that it's 2-1. Morales gives the visitors the lead in #PHIvRSL https://t.co/TXLPU4qpeT
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 1, 2016
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Man of the match: Joao Plata
Goalscorers: Alberg (44' - PK), Plata (47'), Morales (54')
